China protests at US navy action
Print Edition
CHINA voiced its strong protest yesterday after a US Navy warship passed close to the Meiji Reef in the South China Sea.
“The USS Dewey illegally entered the waters near the island early on Thursday without permission of the Chinese government,” said foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang at a press briefing. “Such moves have undermined China’s sovereignty and security and were very likely to cause unexpected air and sea accidents.”
The Chinese navy identified the US warship, warned and expelled it, Lu said.
“China has indisputable sovereignty of the Nansha Islands and its adjacent waters. China always respects and maintains the freedom of navigation and overflight of various countries in the South China Sea in accordance with international law,” Lu said.
“However, we firmly oppose any country damaging China’s sovereignty and security in the name of navigation and overflight freedom.”
Lu said the situation in the South China Sea has shown positive momentum, but the US acts had disrupted negotiations between all parties concerned.
“China is resolute in its determination to maintain sovereignty, security and maritime interests,” he said, urging the US side to correct its mistakes, stop provocation and not harm regional peace and stability as well as China-US cooperation.
Defense ministry spokesman Ren Guoqiang said guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey sailed into waters close to the reefs off China’s Nansha Islands without permission from China, and missile frigates Liuzhou and Luzhou “warned and expelled” the US ship after identifying it.
“The US acts, aimed at showing off military power and pushing regional militarization, could have easily caused sea and air accidents,” Ren said, adding that the Chinese military had lodged solemn representations over the incident to the US side.
Ren said the South China Sea situation is developing toward a stable and positive trend under efforts from China and countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. But he added: “The wrong acts of the US have damaged this trend, doing no good for peace and stability in the South China Sea.”
China-US relations are at a key period of development, he said. It needs effort from both sides to create healthy relations.
“Any wrong actions by the US military will do nothing but spur the Chinese military to strengthen capabilities to safeguard national sovereignty and security,” he said.
The US operation came a week after the Pentagon said Chinese jets conducted an “unprofessional” intercept of a US radiation sniffing plane, an allegation China denied.
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